On June 1, Prof. Rao Zihe, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and former president of Nankai University, gave this semester’s last lecture of "The Status Quo and Future of Bioscience", a general elective course of Nankai University. With the topic of "Virus Invasion, Replication and Assembly", the lecture attracted more than 1,000 audience. 

When SARS broke out in 2003, the research group led by Rao Zihe set about studying the structural function of target proteins related to transcription and replication of coronavirus as well as inhibitor drugs. Thanks to 19-year researches, his team solved many problems about key target protein structure in concert with many leading teams in China after the COVID-19 broke out in 2020.

During the lecture, Rao Zihe introduced the lifecycle of viruses based on the research findings of his team, including invasion, transcription and replication, assembly and release. Speaking of the invasion process, he introduced the process of analyzing the high-resolution crystal structure of hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) virus particles EV71 and CVA16, which lays the groundwork for a deeper understanding of the pathogenic mechanism of the virus as well as the development of targeted prevention and treatment means. In terms of virus replication, Rao Zihe showed the assembly process of the key protein complex of the coronavirus through elaborate explanation and the physical model of the protein structure. Finally, he introduced the assembly mechanism of herpes virus, including complex interaction of nucleocapsid proteins as well as fine structural information, which lays the groundwork for the treatment of herpes virus. 

Rao Zihe concluded the lecture by giving detailed answers to hot issues in the field such as "What is the impact of the Alpha fold on structural biology?"

(Edited and translated by Nankai News Team)